Hallway Hexes
Two first-years, who had entered Hogwarts on the first of September, 1970, walked down one of the long corridors together. It was now the middle of their first week.
"I'm bored, James. I wish something exciting would happen."
"Be careful what you wish for, Sirius. The last exciting thing that happened here was when Hagrid the half-giant murdered two students."
"Maybe we can make our own excitement. My cousin Bellatrix taught me some hexes," said Sirius.
"Is your cousin that beautiful black-haired witch I saw you speaking with on the train?" asked James.
"Yes, that's Bellatrix Black, but she's way out of your broom flight range. Besides, she already has a boyfriend," said Sirius.
"Come off it mate, I was only asking. There's no way I could ask her out. I'm a first-year and she must be a seventh," said James.
"Eighth, actually," said Sirius. "She failed her NEWTs and has to re-take a year. So does her boyfriend Rodolphus, which was no coincidence. I heard they distracted each other last year and didn't study."
"Pretty wild," said James.
"That she is. Her family was furious, of course. They insisted she come back to Hogwarts, rather than get married right away like they planned.," said Sirius.
"They're of age," said James.
"It's a matter of family and Slytherin pride. They can't afford to be disinherited," said Sirius.
"Best watch out for that yourself. Your family isn't happy that you ended up in Gryffindor," said James.
"That's an understatement," said Sirius. "Bellatrix isn't speaking to me now. But like I said, over the summer she taught me some hexes, when she thought I would be in Slytherin with her. There's an advantage in having a cousin of age. If the Ministry checked for underage magic, she could say she did it."
"Did they check on you?" asked James.
"No. It's enforced selectively. They don't bother important, pure-blood families like ours," said Sirius.
"What kind of hexes did you learn?" asked James.
"Fun ones. I'll show you if we can find a suitable subject," said Sirius.
"I'm up for fun. Let's keep an eye out," said James.
A little later they turned a corner and came across a lone student with neatly-combed blond hair, hurrying to class.
"Look, there's Bertie Aubrey. I hate the way he always answers first in Charms class, showing me up. He's a teacher's pet," said James.
"I know just the hex for him," said Sirius. "Hey Bertie! You have so many brains, you need a bigger head to hold them. Engorgio Skullus!"
Bertie cried out and fell to the floor as his head swelled to twice normal size. He tried to get up, but his heavy head pulled him off balance.
"Good one, Sirius! What shall we do to him next?" said James.
"Expeliarmus! Expeliarmus!" came a shout, and their wands flew from their hands.
A boy with long, greasy black hair showed himself around the corner.
"Stay out of this, Snivelous! It doesn't concern you," said James just before he got hit with a Silencio.
As the two went for their wands, Snape began firing hexes at them. James got an itchy rash and bats crawling out of his nose. Sirius got sardines coming out of his.
"Run!" said Sirius. "Dis gid knows more gurses than Bellatrigs. We'll ged him back for id lader."
Snape collected the dropped wands and helped Bertie to his feet.
"Let's get you to a teacher, Bertie. They'll fix you up," said Severus.
"Thanks for your help..." said Bertie.
"I'm Severus Snape."
"Thanks, Severus," said Bertie. "How do you know so many hexes?"
"My mother taught me. She said classmates can be cruel to people who aren't popular, and she was certainly right. I've picked up more from books," said Snape.
"Aren't you in Slytherin? I'm a Gryffindor, though maybe I would have fit in better in Ravenclaw," said Bertie.
"Those bullies are Gryffindors too, but I won't hold that against you," said Snape. "These wands I captured will prove them guilty and get them detention for sure."
"Oh, so that's why you helped me," said Bertie.
"Basically right," said Snape. "But I also don't like seeing people being picked on."
Sirius and James got double detention, but Snape also got detention for dueling with them.
Snape returned to his Slytherin dormitory in a huff, and threw his wand onto the bed. The wand bounced off and rolled under the bed. When he reached for it, his hand brushed a loose floorboard. Out of curiosity he lifted it and pulled out a small black diary, the kind one might find in any Muggle stationary store. It was blank except for the words "T. M. Riddle" on the first page.
Snape decided to use it himself. He got out a quill from his bag and wrote, "I am Severus Snape."
The ink pulled into the page, and new words appeared, "Hello, Severus. I am Tom Riddle."